The thoughts, semi-thoughts, splenetic rantings and vague half ideas, of a leftie-lib marooned in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

New Zealand - a word in your ear

Look, I know you are all fired up about this Asian foreign driver thing. But just stop it. Now.

You are the last nation on Earth to be complaining about foreign drivers. You are the most reckless, selfish and unthinking drivers in all Creation. Your banged up, dinted road-wreck 'cars' are a testament to your vehicular incompetence.

Yes, there have been a handful of terrible accidents. It is not surprising that they have been concentrated in the last few weeks - of course tourists are going to come here in the summer. Pass your mind over the following:

During the 2014/2015 Christmas holiday period there were 15 fatal crashes resulting in 17 deaths.

The deaths included:

7 drivers
7 passengers
3 motorcycle riders

12 of the fatal crashes occurred on the open road.

Provisional crash reports indicate that alcohol and/or speed contributed to 11 of the 15 fatal crashes. Driver fatigue is suspected for 2 of the fatal crashes

Drunk, careless New Zealanders, wrecking their own lives and others. For what it is worth, foreigners accounted for 11 road traffic deaths in 2013. Everyone of these deaths is tragic. But the hysteria building around tourist driving stinks of a media beat up., but it is nothing compared to the 17 racked up over the 10 days or so of the holiday season. Or the 300 (roughly) people are killed in road traffic accidents each year. The vast majority of the drivers responsible for those deaths will be New Zealanders. But we're tired of flagellating ourselves over our own useless selfish stupidity, and it is far more comforting to lash out at FOREIGNERS.

Rather than rushing about grabbing other people's keys in a display of vigilante b-a-bloody-legend machismo, you should be pounding your on out of shape so you can never drive again. You aren't safe on the roads, New Zealand. Face up to it and sort yourself out.